6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Donnie Yen is out of this world, March 21, 2004
This review is from: Fist of Fury (DVD)
I know stalwart Bruce Lee fans won't like this movie, and after discovering that this is, in fact, a 25+ TV episode series crammed into a 4-hour movie, it explains a lot. I'll be looking for the VCDs if I can find the entire series. Donnie Yen is a bloody kung fu god.
Criticize the story. It's long and drawn out. But if it's a TV series, it makes more sense. The theme-- revenge and more revenge-- goes on and on. The story in Fist of Fury: Sworn Revenge prequels the story in Bruce Lee's classic film, and tries to pay homage to Bruce Lee's memory. Thematically, it does this, discussing things like freedom from rigid forms and stances. The movie as presented on this DVD/Video sets up the story that we are more familiar with-- death of master, Japanese incursion on Chinese turf, etc..
I'm still trying to figure out if Fist of Fury and Fist of Fury: Sworn Revenge are actually separate DVDs here in the States. My take is that Fist of Fury (no Revenge) is the actual remake of Bruce Lee's film. I haven't seen that yet.
Martial arts-wise, what can you say? Numerous, long fight scenes. Donnie Yen is fabulous. The supporting cast is very strong kung fu-wise. The choreography is wonderful. The action is fast, sped up a little, but not so much that you can't follow it-- as in some HK-based kung fu films. And I suspect they didn't speed it up THAT much. Donnie is just plain fast.
Some reviewers claim the fight scenes aren't realistic. Hello? The movie isn't about realism. Few kung fu movies are. Heck, Bruce Lee's movies aren't about realism. It's about movies-- showmanship. But drink up the kung fu. It's gorgeous to behold. If you actually study kung fu, watching practically any "classic" kung fu movie is a treat-- you understand why they emphasize the flying leaps, or how a kick sends the opponent skidding backwards along his feet, without losing balance. It's all cinematic interpretations of ideal principles. Donnie Yen is just plain fabulous, and the other principals are premiere kung fu masters, too. I was salivating and jealous over their skill.
I don't expect these types of movies to be awesome storywise. You want that, you can compromise your kung fu standards with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Hero gives both story and kung fu. This was great for seeing Donnie and Co. strut their stuff.
Nobody can be Bruce Lee. Some of the reviewers critiqued Donnie for trying. Give me a break. Donnie is BETTER in terms of kung fu. Bruce had his own style, his own way of doing things. Bruce couldn't do what Donnie does. Donnie can't quite be Bruce. In fact, I liked less the fight scenes where Donnie starts bouncing around like a boxer, and trying to imitate Bruce's more boxing-based JKD. But I loved Donnie just plain kung fu fighting. Give me a DVD with Donnie just doing forms, and I'd be in heaven.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A TRUE Bruce Lee Tribute, April 22, 2005
I finally got my hands on Donnie Yen's Fist of Fury: Sworn Revenge, which was pushed as a prequel to Bruce Lee's Chinese Connection and his own version of Fist of Fury, and I was breathless behind the storyline, the colorful characters, the Cantonese w/t English subtitles setup(authenticity), the special affects and the action. What we have here is an awesome foundation for the storyline feautured in Bruice Lee's Fist of Fury(Chinese Connection). However, the only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 was because: (1)to quote another post, it did look more like a day time soap than an actual kung-fu flick, but with all the action, the setup becomes obsolete(lol), (2)Sworn Vengeance is somewhat of a prequel and companion to Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury, but is a much better companion to Donnie Yen's Fist of Fury considering the fact that Yen's FOF features more prior to the death of Chen's master before the famous burial scene(TEACHER! TEACHER!!!), and (3)While I enjoyed the efx, it DID look like they were fast fwd'g the action to make it look like Yen was faster than he was. Nonetheless, we have a REAL, modern day tribute to Bruce Lee's work in Fist of Fury. However, Sworn Vengeance is more of a companion to Yen's FOF than to Lee's...for a TRUE companion to Bruce Lee's Chinese Connection(Fist of Fury) I STRONGLY recommend Bruce Li's Chinese Connection 2(Fist of Fury 2). I also recommend Fist of Legend(Jet Li) which is another modern remake of Fist of Fury, but with a different twist. But to make a long story short...Fist of Fury:Sworn Vengeance + Fist of Fury = SUPERB!!! Bruce Lee would be proud!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
fist of fury, September 10, 2004
This review is from: Fist of Fury (DVD)
It;s supposed to be an awesome TV series about Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury" ( "Chinese Connection" in US) played by Donnie Yen. I saw the whole series on TV. But cramping it into one 2 hour movie?!! it's not easy at all. The story line is still good (of course it's still way far if you compare it with the real 27 series/ episodes) but you can catch the resumed story. Fighting scenes are awesome but I agreed that they fastforward it as about 2-3XX on your DVD. Donnie is fast but not that fast. He was a world Tai Chi Champion. I love him in certain way he's better than Bruce Lee, in other ways, Bruce Lee is much better than him, so he just did that movie coz he appreciate Bruce Lee and Chen Jen legend. It's a tribute to Bruce Lee. Not trying to make a copycat at all. So just enjoy it as the movie itself, don't compare it to Fist of Fury by Bruce Lee (Chinese Connection), Jackie Chan (The New Fist of Fury) or Jet Lee (Fist of Legend). They all have their own positive and negative side.
I just dissapointed with the back cover of this DVD, the show the scenes which is not in the DVD at all. They are the Korean kickboxer and Chen Jen's senior who is jealous to Chen Jen. That was two great fighting scenes in this movie but the just hook me up on the back cover, I didn't find it at all in the movie.
Overall if you don't see the TV series, don't judge Donnie Yen and this movie, this is a pretty good movie. Thanks.
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